Job 11

1 Then Sophar the Minaean answered and said,

Then Zophar the Naamathite began speaking and said,

2 He that speaks much, should also hear on the other side: or does the fluent speaker think himself to be righteous? blessed [is] the short lived offspring of woman.

“So many words be answered, shouldn't they? Or is a person proved right by doing a lot of talking?

3 Be not a speaker of many words; for is there none to answer you?

Should all your babbling force people to keep quiet? When you mock, shouldn't someone make you feel ashamed?

4 For say not, I am pure in my works, and blameless before him.

You said, ‘What I teach is the pure truth,’ and ‘in God's eyes I am clean.’

5 But oh that the Lord would speak to you, and open his lips to you!

If only God would speak up and tell you directly,

6 Then shall he declare to you the power of wisdom; for it shall be double of that which is with you: and then shall you know, that a just recompence of your sins has come to you from the Lord.

because then he would explain to you the secrets of wisdom. True wisdom has many sides to it. God's treatment of you is far better than your guilt deserves.

7 Will you find out the traces of the Lord? or have you come to the end [of that] which the Almighty has made?

Can you find out the mysteries of God? Can you discover all the wisdom of the Almighty?

8 Heaven [is] high; and what will you do? and there are deeper things than those in hell; what do you know? (Sheol h7585)

It is greater than the heavens—what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol—what can you know? (Sheol h7585)

9 Or longer than the measure of the earth, or the breadth of the sea.

It extends farther than the earth, and wider than the sea.

10 And if he should overthrow all things, who will say to him, What have you done?

If God comes and imprisons someone, or assembles the court for judgment, who can stop him?

11 For he knows the works of transgressors; and when he sees wickedness, he will not overlook [it].

For God knows who are deceivers—when he sees someone sin, he pays attention to it.

12 But man vainly buoys himself up with words; and a mortal born of woman [is] like an ass in the desert.

Stupid people will become wise when wild donkeys are born tame!

13 For if you have made your heart pure, and lift up [your] hands towards him;

But if you repent and spread out your hands to pray to him,

14 if there is any iniquity in your hands, put if far from you, and let not unrighteousness lodge in your habitation.

if you get rid of your sins and don't let wickedness continue in your life,

15 For thus shall your countenance shine again, as pure water; and you shall dive yourself of uncleanness, and shall not fear.

then you would be able to hold your head high in innocence, you will be firm and unafraid.

16 And you shall forget trouble, as a wave that has passed by; and you shall not be scared.

You will forget your misery, remembering it only as water under the bridge.

17 And your prayer [shall be] as the morning star, and life shall arise to you [as] from the noonday.

Your life will shine brighter than the noonday sun; even darkness will be like the morning.

18 And you shall be confident, because you have hope; and peace shall dawn to you from out of anxiety and care.

You will have confidence because there is hope; you will be protected and rest in safety.

19 For you shall be at ease, and there shall be no one to fight against you; and many shall charge, and make supplication to you.

You will lie down to sleep with no one to frighten you, and many will come asking for your favor.

20 But safety shall fail them; for their hope is destruction, and the eyes of the ungodly shall waste away.

But the eyes of the wicked will fail, they will not be able to escape, and their only hope is in death.”